The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-21
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on a Variety or Interesting
SuhiaefQ

andmar< it Correspondents Column y Noatfen.
uon VIII De PAID TO communications that not
accompanied with full name and address of writer
Our readers are requested to inelOse a stamp for
reply to their inquiries. Postal cards viii Do
replied to by mail only. Replies by mail will ordi-
narily be made within a week, and IA in this col.
umn within three weeks.l
f. r. r., ST. james, Neb-The decision Of the Sec
ond Controller, to which you refer, includes all
soldiers VINO were discharged for sunstroke where
by said soldier is entitled to the same bounty he
would have received had he served his entire term
of service.
w. IT. H. w., South BriClgeton. Mel If a soldier
places claim against the Government in an agents
hands. could said agent collect the money and keep
il without the soldiers knowledge? 3 A soldier
serves out his time and receives an honorable dis
charge. He re-ensts in March, 1863. Is he not ent-
tied TO 500 veteran bounty? A1lSlCcr. l. No; the
money IS paid direct to the claimant 2 10 depends
upon the length of his first service and the period
for which he enlisted the second time. To entitle
him to veteran bounty the soldier have served
at least nine months in another organization or
TWO years IN the same organization, and re-enlsted
for three years.
J. b., Gary. Dok.-Increase pension claims only
date from the particular examination which shows
that the pensiOner is entitled to increase 10 would
not go back 10 a former examination which failed
to show that the pensiOner entitled to increase.
a. III. r., Kansas City MO.-YOu not entitled
to arrears OF pension, because the law provides
that all pensions allowed by special acts of Con-
gress shall commence only from the date when the
special act was approved by the President. 10
would be useless for you to attempt to secure ar
rears.
F. H. ~. interest allowed
under any circumstances in any pension claim on
pension money which may be due or unpaid 2
The Commissioner of Pensions has a right to cor
respond with a Postmaster for information regard
ing the merits of any pension claim, the repu-
tatiOn of the witnesses therein. claim is not re-
Jeeted upon the report OF a Postmaster. The Com
missioner of Pensions will at all times be pleased
to remedy any wrongwhich may have been COM
mitted in any pension claim.
S. n. b., CatttettSburg Tennis the Governments
bound to furnish an elastic stocking for pensioner
AnSlrPr.
y. M W.. DephOs. Kan.-What was the amend
ment to the act of June g. 1884 passed by the last
Congress? AnSt0er. The amendment provided REQ
ognltlon IN some cases from the date of rank given
in the body of the commission instead Of the date
when the commission was signed by the Governor,
thus providing for some officers whose commissions
were issued to date back
j. B. w., WeIimanuiHe Kdn.-You are not en-
titled to additional 500 bounty The act OF
cases where no bounty tUhdteVer had been paid and
was only intended for cases where original
bounty could be paid.
g. b.. Cauia Ind-The second clause in tho
amended.
A. E. w., Warren OFF there is no record Of
your marriage you should endeavor to furnish the
testimony of the person who ofieiated and per-
formed the service. IL You cannot do that. you
should furnish the testimony of two witnesses who
were present when you were married. of two
persons who have known you longest, and can tes-
ufy that you and your husband lived together az
man and wife, and were so acknowledged in the
community where you have resided
g. H. McL. DennysUile. Me.-If pensioner loses
his pension certificate, how must he proceed TO
procure a dupIicateP 1ns,uer AppIv 10 the Conn
missioner of Pensions for q new one. and dupli-
cate will be issued.
tfcate; how shall proceed to procure anOtherP
2. II a Mexican war soldiers widow is 81 years Of
age, Is she entitled to pension? ARsl0er. 1. Write
to the AdIutant General, U. =. A. this city IN relR-
ton to discharge. 2. Yes, il not remarked.
L. j., Nashville, ~ Y.-1. II take q soldiers
homestead claim. what time should be allowed to
m LAY Dsawra
pension under the Mexican pension bill; is he cor
rect? g. What time should be credited with on q
soldiers claim? 1nstcer. I. Six months. 2 "A''
is wrong. jeff Davis cannot be pensOned under
the Mexican pension bill. because il expressly ex-
eludes those who laboring under political dis
abilities. JEFF Davis never having been pardoned
for his participation in the rebellion, Is disqualified
for pension. 8. You will be credited ON your five
years residence with the exact time you actually
served under both enlistments.
Il. H., Usage, Ark.-l. enlisted for three years,
Nov. 1, 1862. and was discharged July -, 1865 I
received but S25 bounty; am still entitled to the
remaining $50 promised? 2. Is there any additional
bounty due, and can i collect same? g. A pensiOuer
dies, leaving an unsigned voucher; how should
the minor heir proceed TO collect sameP A. The
same pensioner, having made application for in
crease, dies before receiving samei can his heirs
collect il from date of allowance and how? an
s.Oer. j. Ii depends upon the cause of your dis
charge, and whether your record is clear 2 Claims
for additional bounty barred by statute Of
limitation. g Write to the Pension Agent by whom
the pension was paid, and you will be fully In
formed a. Write to Pension Agent as above
~ L., Sad Rirer, Mieh.-Was there an act of Con-
gress a decision of the Pension ONCE about May
AnsUer. No. You probably refer to the ruling Of
the Commissioner of Pensions dated April 3, 1884.
j. III. j., OhiOUiiie, Pal. A soldier draws PEN
sion a private: Ii he prove by officers testi-
mony that his disability originated after he became
Captain, will the Commissioner correct the eTrOrP
2. Would said correction also give difference in
arrears, soldier having drawn the same pri-
vate? 8. A soldier has claim on file for rheuma-
tism, which is rejected on account of lack of evil
dence showing disability. said claim having been
filed prior to June. 1880. If completed, will he draw
arrears? Anss0er. l. If he can prove the fact yes.
2. Yes. g. Yes.
VIM H. H., CLIFTON city. MO.-what action has to
be taken in order that a notary public be recog-
nized by the Pension Bureau? AnSirer File in
said Bureau a certificate of his official signature
and character duly attested by clerk of the court
WIS, Elktart, Ind. soldier was dis
charged on account of measles. He afterwRrd
enlisted and served until close of war. Finding
the effect of said measles prevents him from per-
forming manual labor. will the fact of his reenlist
ment prevent him from claiming pension on such
disability? 2. III there should be an extra session
of Congress in October is il likely the general de-
ficiency bill would pass then? ARsgUer. /. No. 2
An effort will be made to have the bill taken up
and passed IL extra session be called, and il Is
likely that such bill would be passed in case of an
extra session.
H. s. Russell Kan-I A pensioner dies leaving
a dependent mother; is she entitled to pension? 2
pensioner leaves "a widow, and children under 10
years of age by former husband who WAS not
are Sttiu chllOren pension an
Slrer. 1. That depends upon many things chief OF
which are that the pensiOner left no widow
minor children surviving him, and that his death
due TO disease or disability which originated
in the line of duty in the service. 2. The widow
would be entitled to pension providing his death
was due to disability which originated in line OF
duty in the service. The children by former hus-
band would not be entitled. Only has children
would be entitled to pension.
G. II. g., Grand Meadotg, MiHn-Was mustered
into service in 1862 and was discharged 1854
count of sunstrOke. i only received $50 bounty;
am not entitled to additional $50 under recent
decision classng sunstroSe with wounds? Ansseer.
You are entitled to Sl0O under the decision mem
toned, providing you were discharged for sun
stroke.
JH b.. Ida Grove Io,oa.-DifFerence Of pay be-
tween Second Lieutenant and Captain of infantry
ond Lieutenant and Captain of cavalry and light
artillery was Sl6.67.
IL d. B. Harrison GA soldier served three
years and was houorably discharged. He re-en-
listed and was shot. Can his son, who IN the only
surviving heir, take q homestead and have said
three years deducted from the time required TO live
thereon? AnStEer. Providing widow of soldier In
dead and the son is under 81 years of age ana the
soldiers death occurred while he was in line OF
duty, yes.
III b. b., Northampton Mass.-I The act of April
% 1877 provided bounty only to such soldiers who
were not paid any bounty whatever. 2. II u soldier
died from disease or other cause which originated
in the service and in line of duty his widow with
out regard to date of marriage would be entitled
to IS per month up to March TO- 1855 and SI2 there
after with 81 additional for each child under 10
years of age; pension for children 30 cease upon
their arriving ut that age. Pensions of widows ara
fixed at q uniform rate. and can neither be more
nor less. The amount of pension tho husband -
eeiyed has nothing To do with her rate.